Dutch Santa Claus sidekick Black Pete is offensive, judge says

A judge in Amsterdam ruled Thursday that the traditional Christmas figure, Zwarte Piet, or Black Pete, is offensive to black people in the Netherlands. He said that the city government needs to rethink using the character in government-sponsored events.

Black Pete is typically depicted as a sidekick for the Netherlands’ version of Santa Claus, with white people dressed in blackface and wearing an Afro-style wig. As the Associated Press notes, some have considered this racist, while others say it is not meant to be offensive.

However, those who showed up in the courtroom today cheered the decision, the Amsterdam Herald reports. The judge said that the character is offensive, based on the European Convention on Human Rights’ article eight.

Now, Amsterdam mayor Eberhard van der Laan has six months to figure out if he will grant a permit to this year’s festivities if the Black Pete character is present.

According to the traditional Dutch story, Sinterklaas (St. Nicholas) arrives in the Netherlands on Dec. 4, handing out treats with the help of the characters in blackface and pageboy outfits. The depiction of the Black Pete character has evolved over time, but it still involves blackface and red lips. Some new possibilities raised have included using different face paint colors or just putting some black paint on the cheeks to simulate soot.

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